Tennis star drops his claim for ‘diplomatic immunity’ from bankruptcy
world tennis number one Boris Becker has dropped his claim to have diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy.
The three-time Wimbledon champion had argued his appointment by the Central African Republic as a sporting, cultural and humanitarian attaché to the European Union meant he could not be subjected to legal proceedings.
But, after being told yesterday that Mr Becker is no longer pursuing that claim, a judge made a court order extending his bankruptcy indefinitely.
As a result of mr beck er abandoning his case, a planned auction of his trophies and memorabilia, previously put on hold, will go ahead.
The 50-year-old German was declared bankrupt in June 2017 by Registrar Christine Derrett, who recalled watching him play on Centre Court.
The bankruptcy was due to be discharged in June, which would have released him from his debts, but that was put on hold to allow further investigation of the diplomatic immunity issue.
However, lawyers acting for the bankruptcy trustees told a specialist insolvency court in London that Mr Becker has now dropped his claim.
Tony Beswetherick, for the trustees, said Mr Becker wrote in an email that he had “no alternative but to abandon the claim for diplomatic immunity”.
The tennis star also wrote that he was “not in a position” financially to pursue any part of his case.
Judge Schaffer, hearing the case, made an order which suspends the discharge of Mr Becker’s bankruptcy indefinitely.
The judge told the court that Mr Becker’s finances may be scrutinised if he fails to co-former operate with the trustees.
At the June hearing, lawyers acting for the bankruptcy trustees claimed Mr Becker had not co-operated fully with them by not providing “full and accurate information” about his assets.
The allegation related to assets including two German properties, a property in London, an interest in three Mercedes dealerships and various tennis trophies and memorabilia.